Container



NOV. 5, 1940. A R, REESE Er AL 2,220,351

CONTAINER Filed Jan. 1'7, 1938 uw f6 FJ Z Z. J INVENTOR.

,MAY/v R. 'R-65 Q4 /2 .CLARENCE @H4/7800K Y JE.

lBY

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 5, 1940 PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER Allyn R. Reese and Clarence G. Hartsook, Denver, Colo., assignors of one-fourth to said Hartsook and three-fourths to said Reese Application January 17, 1938, Serial No. 185,393

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in containers, for matches, toilet articles and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide such a container that can be opened by telescoping two component members by pressing them Atogether and which will automatically close when such pressure is released.

Another object is the provision in a container of the above character, of means to automatically lock the same against opening when turned to an inverted position.

A further object is to provide a container that will open automatically when compressed, inclusive of manuallyr controlled means to maintain the same in an open condition.

Other objects and advantages reside in details of design and construction that will be more fully disclosed in the following description and in the drawing wherein like parts have been similarly designated and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a container made according to this invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same looking in the direction of the arrow 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan View as indicated by arrow 3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view of the normally lower face of the same as shown by arrow 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a cross section on line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a cross section on line 6-6 of Fgure 1;

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the container in an open position;

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a removable insert adapted to cooperate with the container of Figure '7 Figure 9 illustrates a container made according to a modified form of the invention;

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view on line Ill-IU of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary detail View of the under side of the container shown in Figures 9 and 10; and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view on line |2|2 of Figure 11 and drawn to a larger scale.

In the drawing, reference character I5 denotes an outer casing preferably made of sheet metal or the like. Cooperatively mounted within the casing is a slide element I6 having a cover I'I hinged at I8. In space I9 between the inner ends of the slide and the casing is a nesting type compression spring 20. The upper forward part of the casing is cut away to expose the slide ele- (CL 20G-33) 1 to 8, the slide is open at its outer end to receive an insert 2| which is in the form of a hollow rectangle to resiliently embrace a match box 22, Figure 8. Referring to Figure 7, an arm 23 projects inwardly and downwardly from the inner surface of the hinged cover I'I adjacent a side thereof. A wire spring or the like 2i, is pivotally attached to the arm and extends along a side of the slide, thence through an elongated aperture 25 in the slide and is made fast to a side of the outer casing I5. Upstanding brackets 26, on the inner bottom surface of the slide I6, serve as guides for the insert 2|, as it is positioned in its normal place, to prevent it contacting the arm 23 and the spring` 24. The side of the insert that normally is adjacent the spring 24, is inset to provide clearance for the spring 24 and the arm 23'as shown `at 2|a. Tabs 2'| on the upper edges of the casing are inturned to provide retaining y guides for the edges of the slide.

A gravity'actuated latch element 28, Figures 3 'and 5, is-pivoted at 29 to the inner surface of inner end wall Ilia of the slide, and carries a detent 30 which normallyA is in alinement with an aperture 3| through the top of the slide and the casing. If the container is inverted or turned up-side-down the detent will enter the aperture and prevent the slide from being pressed inward-- ly while in that position. A stop 32 prevents the insert 2| from contacting the latch element.

In operation, a user places a box of matches in the insert 2| and places theassembly into the slide I6 which forms a complete enclosure as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4. When the container is to be opened, the user simply presses the slide inwardly to telescope it into the casing against the force of the nesting spring 20, the notch |512 in the bottom of the casing providing thumb room for this operation. As the slide moves inwardly, the spring 24, being attached to the casing I5, pulls the arm 23 on the cover I'I. to cause the cover to rotate upwardly about its hinged axis, to an open position as shown in Figure '7. When pressure is released, the slide and the cover return to their normal closed positions by the force of the springs.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 9, 10 and 11, the container is made relatively wider and thinner to serve as a compact. The operating mechanism is similar to that hereinabove described and in addition a latch element .ture 34.

28a, that is similarly positioned to the latch 23, has a second detent 33 that will fall through an aperture 34 in the casing bottom when the slide is pushed inwardly to a position Where a hole 34a, in the slide and the detent aline with aper- This action latches the container in its open position. This feature is, however, under manual selective control by kmeans of a slide 35, on the normally lower side or bottom I5a of the container, which can be moved to cover the aperture 34 to prevent the detent 33 from entering. The slide 35 may thus be used to control the latch 28a in its function of holding the container open against the force of the springs that tend to close it. When the aperture 34 is covered the detent 33 is inoperative. The gravity-latching function of the elements 28 and 28a is preferably automatic in both uforms Vto prevent opening of the container in an inverted or upside-down position.

In Figure 12 details of the manual slide 35 are shown. The slide is turned at 35a to provide a latch-releasing inclined surface which will force the detent 33 out of the aperture 34 when the slide is pushed to cover the hole.

Obviously, containers designed according to this invention can be made of a size and shape to adapt them to carry various articles other than matches or toilet articles which have been herein described in detail as illustrative of many other uses, such as, for instance, for carrying cigarettes, coins, fishing ilies, doctors or nurses equipment, and many other items. The device may also be constructed in the form of a toy or amusing novelty, and it may be adapted for installation on a smoking stand or an ash tray.

When the devicev is used as a match container, a removable element 36 having a match-striking surface may be attached to an exterior surface of the casing l5, or any other convenient location thereon.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character disclosed, comprising an open-sided casing, a spring-opposed slide element telescoped therein, a hinged lid for the slide, operating mechanism connecting the lid with the casing to rotate said lid through the open side of said casing by inward telescoping movement of the slide in the casing, and spring means positioned and adapted to close said lid when the slide is released.

2. In a device of the character described, a casing, a slide element telescoped therein and open at an end, and a removable insert for the slide adapted to embrace articles to be carried in the slide and to provide a closure for the open end.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a casing, a slide telescoped therein, there being apertures in the casing and in the slide respectively, capable of alinement in a predetermined relative position of the casing and the slide, and a latch element comprising a gravityactuated pivotal arm having a detent, on the slide positioned and adapted to enter the apertures when they are alined.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a casing, a slide telescoped therein, there vbeing apertures in the casing and in the slide respectively, capable of alinement in a predetermined relative position of the casing and the slide, a latch element positioned to enter the apertures when they are alined, and means to selectively close one of the apertures against entrance of the latch to render the latch inoperative.

5.1A device of the character described comprising a casing having an open side, a springpressed slide telescoped therein and having a hinged cover adjacent the open side thereof, an arm projecting inwardly from said cover adjacent the hinge axis thereof, a spring-rod connecting the arm with the casing whereby the cover is moved through the open side thereof exposing substantially the entire interior of the slide, by inward telescoping movement of the slide.

6. In a device as described inclusive of a casing having apertures at opposite sides, andl a slide member telescoped therein, a latch comprising a gravity-actuated pivotal arm on the slide having detents projecting oppositely andpositioned and Aadapted to enter the respective apertures when alined therewith by movement of the slide.

ALLYN R. REESE. CLARENCE G. HARTSOOK. 

